Apple News 3d Briefing
×Last updated: March 15, 2026, 2:06 AM ET
Apple 50th Anniversary Celebrations Begin
Apple kicked off its 50th anniversary celebrations macrumors.com with a surprise Alicia Keys concert at its Grand Central Terminal store in New York City, which the company mysteriously shut down macrumors.com earlier in the day. The event marks the beginning of worldwide festivities planned by Apple to commemorate its half-century milestone. CEO Tim Cook shared a "50 Years of Thinking Different" letter macrumors.com, reflecting on the company's journey and philosophy ahead of the official anniversary date. Apple's anniversary celebrations will extend across multiple countries macrumors.com, with special events and activations planned to engage customers and employees globally. These celebrations come as Apple continues to dominate multiple product categories while preparing for next-generation innovations.
MacBook Neo Creates Market Disruption
Apple's new MacBook Neo has disrupted the company's laptop lineup 9to5mac.com with its ultra-affordable $599 starting price point, making other non-Pro Macs harder to justify in value comparisons. The device has ignited a surge in Mac trade-ins macrumors.com as consumers upgrade to the new entry-level model. For those seeking expanded storage options, achieving 1TB on the MacBook Neo requires technical expertise appleinsider.com, involving micro soldering and chip removal that voids warranties. Meanwhile, Parallels has confirmed macrumors.com that the MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine, though performance varies depending on configuration. A recent teardown revealed macrumors.com the MacBook Neo's highly modular design with glue-less battery and minimal tape, making it one of the most repair-friendly Mac laptops in recent memory. The device's impact extends beyond Apple's ecosystem, with the former president of Microsoft's Windows division praising the MacBook Neo appleinsider.com as superior to his current MacBook Air and lamenting Microsoft's struggles with ARM-based Windows.
iPhone Fold Emerges as iPhone Ultra
Rumors surrounding Apple's first foldable device intensified this week appleinsider.com with new reports that Samsung Display will begin producing screens for the device. According to supply chain leaks, the foldable iPhone will feature 12GB of RAM macrumors.com supplied by Samsung, with shipments expected to begin in the second quarter. Storage options are rumored to include three capacity tiers, though pricing details remain unconfirmed. Perhaps most notably, a new leak suggests Apple will brand the device as the iPhone Ultra appleinsider.com, potentially marking a new premium product line beyond the current Pro models. Industry analysts predict the foldable device could redefine Apple's smartphone strategy 9to5mac.com later this year, positioning the company to compete with Samsung's established foldable market presence.
Budget iPhone 17e Gains Traction
Apple's new iPhone 17e has addressed long-standing concerns 9to5mac.com about entry-level iPhone models, finally delivering a budget-friendly device that doesn't compromise too much on core features. The device is now available on T-Mobile appleinsider.com without requiring a trade-in, making it accessible to a wider range of consumers. In a direct comparison to the previous generation, reviewers find the iPhone 17e superior to the iPhone 16 macrumors.com in